I recently returned from a meeting of mayors across the United States. Cities like New York and Miami, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth Indiana all sit in the same rooms, and we talk about our problems. We all have problems with jobs and streets, sewers and water, and we all exchange and borrow the best ideas and practices from each other.

First, we had experts talking to us about the economy. They believe that a recovery can now be sustained. Rising employment will support

consumption increases and housing. The housing market will continue to be bumpy. It could drop again through the fall of this year and then stabilize next year.

As cities, we should be noting business equipment investment and exports are surging now. Business is bulking up and that usually happens just before employment numbers begin to come up.

Still, there s a strong expectation that fuels reality, in my opinion, that non-residential and commercial construction will fall further, but will start to recover in the first quarter of next year. This reinforces the fact that we get the Plaza and Promenade done now in Auburn’s downtown and be ready into spring of next year for the coming increase in commercial activity.

History tells us that recoveries happen slowly. Their prediction matches the slow growth model the City of Auburn has been using in its

budgeting. Some folks have been hoping the recovery will come faster. Me too, but we must plan for a much slower recovery

The experts showed national statistics of job losses with Auburn’s right where we expect them and predict our region will show a job increase of 1.2-1.9 percent for 2010. They show unemployment remaining high in 2011 with our region hovering at 7.4 to 8.8 percent into the end of 2011. They do believe peak employment show will show a return to our region by 2012-2013.

We heard from the National Association of Realtors who said pending sales are up three months in a row, but new home sales are at an all-time low. Still they believe the market is stabilizing. Home prices are still falling, but every index shows they are beginning to stabilize. For those people always trying to find the best deal at the bottom of the market, that bell is ringing loudly. This is the time to buy.

Foreclosures have stabilized even with a new wave coming after the tax credit ended. Unemployment reductions are the driver. The key is jobs, and we are seeing the number of people employed increase every month. More jobs translate into more homes purchased and that fuels recovery.

It is interesting to see all of these statistics and reports and the experts gave great information. But the mayors talk to the people

standing in the grocery lines, the gas stations, banks and the dentist office; we talk to the builders, the small business owners and we talk to each other.

We see the unemployment coming down decimal by decimal. We talk to the businesses that are starting to hire again. We work hard in all sorts of partnerships to bring projects and grants back to Auburn that will help create jobs. Everything we have seen and heard tells us that more and more jobs will become available in the Puget Sound region.

Then we asked ourselves, what will this next round of prosperity bring us? How will it be different and what will we learn? For me, I told them we will have an increased belief in the power of people and community. I told them about Auburn with pride and pleasure. I told them how we are working together to keep each other fed and safe and of the many groups in our city that are reaching out to those in need.

I know these next few decades will bring a new and different level of prosperity to our city, and we must be ready to make sure our next

generation will be able to make wise choices for their future so we do not repeat mistakes of the past.

Reach Mayor Pete Lewis at plewis@auburnwa.gov.